HERDS INFECTED: Disease Shows Up In Iowa Cattle

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

HERDS INFECTED: Disease Shows Up In Iowa Cattle

Several herds of cattle in western Iowa have tested positive for a disease that normally targets deer.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Thursday that Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease has been found in more than fifteen herds of cattle, mostly in the western part of the state.

The disease isn’t likely to prove fatal for cattle but can cause fever, mouth and gum ulcers, swollen tongue and lameness. It is spread by biting midges and a hard frost will stop the spread of the virus.

Officials say there isn’t any evidence that the EHD virus can infect humans.

High levels of EHD are being seen in the wild whitetail deer population in the southern and western part of the state. The disease can be fatal to deer.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture is advising cattle farmers to use insect control to protect their animals.